About The Scrap Pile
What We Do
On every sound stage and movie set across New York City, dumpsters are being filled to the brim with unused and discarded materials. Everything ranging from fabrics to wood to furniture are unceremoniously discarded at the end of their use.
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The entertainment industry is responsible for approximately 45,600 tons of construction waste annually in New York City alone, around 200 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty. About 30% of that waste is made up of unused scrap materials. These unused bolts of fabric or cut offs from that really expensive 2 x 4, perfectly usable materials, are discarded without a second thought… at least until now.
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The Scrap Pile was created in a time where the entertainment industry has expanded into the streaming age and so have their piles of trash. As artists and members of the entertainment industry, we saw the need for change and The Scrap Pile (TSP) was born.
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TSP aims to reallocate “trash” to “treasure” by creating a workshop and retail space where these once abandoned materials can be made available to local creatives. Not only will we have materials available, but workspace where these artists can create art in a sustainable and inclusive environment at a discounted price. Our aim is to create a sustainable infrastructure which will remove thousands of pounds of material from the waste stream every year and put them in the hands of the people who can really use them.
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TSP has already started receiving material donations from studios around NYC and we are ready to move into its first home and begin operations. With the help of like-minded organizations and individuals this can become a reality through financial donations and support. Help us close the loop on waste in the entertainment industry and create something truly special.






Meet The Team


Nicholas Brester
Director of Operations




Natalie M. Lape
Business Manager
Natalie joined TSP in May of 2024. After working for 15 years as Scenic Artist and seeing the need for different sustainability practices in the entertainment industry, The Scrap Pile was the perfect fit. Natalie is an avid Scuba Diver and has a passion for conserving our oceans and our planet for the next generation, specifically her niece and nephew. She holds her MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Arizona and is a current member of USA 829.
Miller Kiesz
Communication Manager


Alexx Peirce
Social Media Manager
Alexx is a 2020 graduate of the New York Film Academy where she studied musical theatre and film work. After graduating, she has worked on multiple tv & film sets as a production assistant, script supervisor, and prop mistress. In her free time she likes to read, play video games, watch anime, & cuddle with her two cats!
Tom Rubin
Shop Manager









